Joint Committee of the City Council & School Committee November 30, 2021

City Council
Holyoke Massachusetts

 Pursuant to the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §§ 18-25,
and Section 20 of Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021,
notice is hereby given of a meeting of the
Joint Committee of the City Council and School Committee

Tuesday, November 30th, 2021
6:00 PM

Meeting to take place at
Holyoke City Hall, 536 Dwight St
and can be accessed remotely on Zoom Meetings
Per order of the Chair: Gladys Lebron-Martinez

Remote access via www.zoom.us
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84810377377?pwd=S0lzZ2swVE50MXBmempXZ2FHWlVVdz09
Meeting ID: 848 1037 7377 Meeting Passcode: 292779 or by call in at 1 (646) 558-8656 with the same Meeting ID and Passcode.

Agenda

Item 1: 4-6-21 MURPHY, GREANEY — Ordered that the joint council/school committee meet with the receiver to discuss the potential benefits of providing cursive writing instruction in some of the early grades.  Studies have demonstrated that learning cursive improves fine motor skills; increases brain activity in both the right and left hemisphere; is a helpful tool for those with learning disabilities; and improves hand-eye coordination.

Item 2: 4-20-21 LISI — that in an effort to document and make transparent the work that the Holyoke Public Schools have done under receivership, the City Council invite in Anthony Soto, Interim Receiver, as well as any cabinet level members, and possibly a representative from DESE to go over the metrics by which our student achievement is being evaluated, an explanation of the progress we have made thus far, and the benchmarks that we need to meet in order to be released from receivership.

Item 3: 5-18-21 MURPHY — Ordered that the joint committee of city council and school committee meet to discuss potentially transferring school property on the Dean campus at the intersection of St Vincent and Northampton St to the city for the potential purpose of constructing some homes, and making the streets and sidewalks safer for all, while producing some tax revenues.

Item 4: 10-19-21 BARTLEY — Order, Per the School Committee, refer to the Joint Committee of the City Council and School Committee an order to review proposed transfer of school committee land near Dean High School which abuts Ingleside St. and St. Vincent St. Ask that the Joint Committee review the City Engineer’s drawings and take a vote whether to recommend approval of the transfer.

Item 5: 10-19-21 MCGEE — Ordered, That the City Council invite in the Middle School Building project to discuss City Council role, eligibility period, timing of meetings etc.

Item 6: 5-4-21 From Anthony Soto, Acting Superintendent/ Receiver, letter regarding verdict of Officer Derek Chauvin

Administrative Assistant: Jeffery Anderson-Burgos

The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law. Also one or two items may require the committee to enter into executive session at this meeting. Agenda subject to change up to two business days (48 hours) prior to posted meeting time.